Abrasive cloth cleaner

ABSTRACT

A tool for cleaning abrasive paper. A bar having a narrow top edge is fixed to a handle, the handle also carrying a brush. The bar is inserted beneath abrasive paper to open the clogged areas, the brush then displacing the debris between the abrasive particles.

4: Mime States atent [1 1 [11] 3,73,269 Badman Aug. 21, 1973 [54]ABRASIVE CLOTH CLEANER 1,927,476 9/1933 Walker et a1. 51/262 A 2,927,5533/1960 Valle 15/77 X [76] Inventor: Ronald R. Budman, 31 Walnut St.,986170 3 19 H d 51 262 A Milton Pa- 17847 ea y [22] Filed: May 21, 1971FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,145,399 5/1957 France 15/77 [21] Appl,No.: 145,643

Primary ExaminerLeon G. Machlin [52] 11.8. C1. 15/160, 51/262 A Affvmey$t0well & Stowe" [51] Int. CI. 1524b 53/02, B241) 53/10 [58] Field ofSearch 15/160, 256.5 105, [57] ABSTRACT 15/77,210A,21R,2l B;5l/262A,1;

198/229; 134/9, 6 A tool for cleaning abrasive paper. A bar having anarrow top edge is fixed to a handle, the handle also carry- [56]References Cited ing a brush. The bar is inserted beneath abrasive paperUNITED STATES PATENTS to open the clogged areas, the brush thendisplacing the debris between the abrasive particles. 2,258,879 10/1941Blazek et a1. 51/262 A 3,085,268 4/1963 Proulx 15/256.5 X

5 CIaims, 2 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 21, 1973 This inventionrelates to a tool for cleaning abrasive papers and fabrics.

An abrasive paper or fabric is formed by depositing an aggregate of hardand irregular particles on a flexible base, such as paper or fiber, withthe aid of an adhesive on the flexible base. The average size andcomposition of the abrasive particles varies according to the intendeduse, as does the composition of the flexible backing and the particularadhesive employed. During the use of such papers the material againstwhich they are rubbed is of a lesser hardness than the hardness of theparticles. These particles are sometimes called the grit of the paper.As the relatively soft area or surface is worn down by the cutting andshearing action of the hard particles, the spaces between the gritbecome filled with the softer material. Much of this softer material maybe dislodged from between the grit by mechanical vibration or jarring,blowing it off, etc. In the event,

however, that the softer material is particularly tacky or particularlyfine, the dislodgement of the softer material from the intersticesbetween the grit becomes more difficult. With the continued buildup ofthis softer substance, the abrading effect of the paper or cloth isdiminished until a point is reached where the paper must be discarded.

The cleaning tool according to the practice of this invention permitsrapid cleaning of an abrasive paper or cloth by positively dislodgingthe softer material from the interstices or spaces between the grit.Since the grit particles themselves are often stil intact, retainingtheir original roughness, this positive dislodgement can increase theeffective life of the abrasive fabric by as much as 25 percent. In viewof the extensive use or service performed by abrasive papers and clothsin many industries, this represents a significant increase in abra-'sive longevity. The tool according to this invention further permits insitu cleaning of abrasive papers in many instances, this representing astill further economy. This stems from the fact that the abrasive paperor cloth may be cleaned while still on the tool holder or mount, thenumber of changes being thereby diminished.

The tool according to the practice of this invention may be foremd froman elongated bar having an upper and narrow edge. The bar and its edgeis adapted to be placed beneath a tensioned fabric paper or cloth andpulled in such a direction that the cloth is displaced, at

the bar, in a direction normal to its plane. The cleaning tool of thisinvention further includes a brush, such as a wire brush, whose bristlescontact the front or grit surface of the paper. The elongated bar servesto open up the space between the abrasive particles and permit the entryof the bristles of the brush to forcibly and positively displace thesofter material which has found its way in the interstices and whichrests upon the paper or cloth.

While workers in the abrasive art are aware of the problem caused by theentry and lodging of foreign material between the grit particles in aflexible abrasive cloth, no solution so simple as that here presented isknown. Thus, Olson US. Pat. No. 3,241,268 recognizes impairment ofabrasive action by such foreign matter. His solution does recognize thenecessity for opening up the grit mosaic but does not disclose the 2concept of nor apparatus for removing the foreign material.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the cleaningtool of this invention as applied to a conventional sanding or abradingtool.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning tool of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 10 denotes generally thecleaning tool of this invention and is illustrated as cleaning anabrasive paper or fabric secured to a hand-held abrasive tool 12provided with a handle 14. The abrasive tool 12 may carry an electricmotor, not illustrated, for continuously rotating a band 16 of abrasivecloth or paper. lt will be understood, however, that the invention isnot to be considered as limited to mechanical abrasive tools of theillustrated type, but may also be applied where the ends of the abrasivecloth 16 are fastened to a different support. The numeral 18 denotes amount of any convenient construction for the continuous band 16 ofabrasive fabric.

The numeral 20 denotes a vertical standard whose lower end carries ahorizontally disposed bar 22. This bar is generally triangular in crosssection so as to provide a sharp upper edge. Conveniently, the bar 22may be affixed to the standard 20 as by welding in the preferred formwherein they are both formed of metal. The numeral 24 denotes a sleeveelement affixed to standard 20 and which slidably encompasses within itsoverlying portions another vertical standard 26. The standard 26 ispreferably formed of metal and carries an integral extension 28 at rightangles to it. The numeral 30 denotes a peg or abutment secured to sleeve24, while numeral 32 denotes a similar abutment of peg carried byslidable standard 26. A spring 34 interconnects these two pegs andnormally urges the standard 26 down so that a force will be required todisplace the member 28 upwardly from the indicated position. pg,5

A wire brush having a body 36 is secured to the extension 28 as by meansof screws 37 and carries a plurality of wire bristles indicated by thenumeral 38. The numeral 40 indicates a cylindrical handle which may besuitably attached to the standard 20 to facilitate grippmg.

As indicated at FIG. 1 of the drawings, the cleaning tool is used in thefollowing manner. The motorized abrasive grinder l2'is held upside down,in the indicated position. The lateral extension 28 which carries thebrush handle 36 is pulled upwardly against the tension in spring 34.This permits sufficient clearance between the bottom of the bristles 38and the bar 22 so as to enable the latter to be placed underneath theindicated segment of the abrasive cloth 16. The bar 22 is given a slightupward motion to thereby place the abrasive cloth in tension, therebydistorting the plane of the cloth into two planes which intersects atthe top of the bar 22. This upward motion of the tool causes the gritparticles immediately adjacent the bar 22 to become displaced from eachother, thereby opening up the spaces between them. The lateral extension28 is now released, allowing the wire brush to fall upon or test thegrit. The bristles 38 are now able to penetrate between the gritparticles adjacent the bar 22 and thereby positively dislodge theforeign material between the grit particles. The cleaning tool 10 is nowmoved back and forth, along the length of the fabric abrasive 16 tothereby clean a segment of the paper. The tool is now removed, the nextsegment of the continuous band 16 of abrasive cloth is now cleaned in asimilar manner. This process is continued for each segment of theabrasive cloth, until the entire cloth has been cleaned.

It will be apparent that the cloth 16 need not be removed from itsholder. For different sizes and qualities of abrasive papers and cloths,different brushes 36 may be employed, merely by unscrewing the fasteningelements 37 and inserting a different brush. While a sharpened edgealong the bar 22 has been successfully employed, the upper edge may beless sharp than illustrated, so long as the bar 22 performs the functionof opening up the spaces between the grit.

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for cleaning an abrasive cloth or paper including:

a. a horizontal bar having an upper continuous edge,

b. a vertical standard secured at its bottom to one end of said bar,

c. a horizontally disposed brush where bristles are downwardly directedand lie generally in a plane containing said bar edge,

d. means for slidably mounting said brush on said vertical standard,whereby the bristles of the brush may move away from the bar to define agap therebetween.

2. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said bar edge is defined by theintersection of two planar surfaces.

3. The cleaning tool of claim 1 including,

a. means for biasing said brush downwardly, towards and against saidbar.

4. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said (d) means is defined by:

a. an angle member having a horizontal portion affixed to the brush anda vertical portion slidable on said vertical standard,

b. a sleeve for maintaining said vertical angle member and said verticalstandard in slidable parallelism.

5. The cleaning tool of claim 4 including a tension spring connectedbetween said vertical standard and said vertical angle member to biassaid brush downwardly, towards and against said bar.

1. A tool for cleaning an abrasive cloth or paper including: a. ahorizontal bar having an upper continuous edge, b. a vertical standardsecured at its bottom to one end of said bar, c. a horizontally disposedbrush where bristles are downwardly directed and lie generally in aplane containing said bar edge, d. means for slidably mounting saidbrush on said vertical standard, whereby the bristles of the brush maymove away from the bar to define a gap therebetween.
 2. The cleaningtool of claim 1 wherein said bar edge is defined by the intersection oftwo planar surfaces.
 3. The cleaning tool of claim 1 including, a. meansfor biasing said brush downwardly, towards and against said bar.
 4. Thecleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said (d) means is defined by: a. anangle member having a horizontal portion affixed to the brush and avertical portion slidable on said vertical standard, b. a sleeve formaintaining said vertical angle member and said vertical standard inslidable parallelism.
 5. The cleaning tool of claim 4 including atension spring connected between said vertical standard and saidvertical angle member to bias said brush downwardly, towards and againstsaid bar.